BMJ  2007;334:12 (6 January), doi:10.1136/bmj.39080.510394.DB

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Anatomy teaching in United Kingdom is in crisis, new report says

¹ Abergavenny

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

Changes at undergraduate and postgraduate levels are needed to reverse a decline in the teaching of anatomy in the United Kingdom, says a leading article in Surgery.

The article, which was published online on 14 December (www.sciencedirect.com, doi: 10.1016/j.mpsur.2006.11.002), cautions that the number of claims submitted to the Medical Defence Union associated with a lack of anatomical knowledge has increased hugely. "A large proportion of these relate to damage to underlying structures," it says.

The article, by Andrew Raftery, a consultant general surgeon at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, says that anatomy is experiencing a worldwide decline that may soon lead to it disappearing altogether from undergraduate medical education.

"The teaching of anatomy to both undergraduate medical students and postgraduates is in decline," it says. "The traditional teaching of anatomy, based on topographical anatomy taught by didactic lectures, tutorials and dissection of the body with . . . [Full text of this article]

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This article has been cited by other articles:

• Purkayastha, S., Paraskevas, P., Darzi, A. (2007). Make surgeons more active in teaching anatomy at all levels. BMJ 334: 110-110 [Full text]  

Rapid Responses:

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Anatomy Crisis in the UK? Possible solutions

Sanjay Purkayastha, et al.
bmj.com, 8 Jan 2007 [Full text]

A specific example of a general problem

Neville W Goodman
bmj.com, 10 Jan 2007 [Full text]

Doubtful Inferences

Brian C Jolly
bmj.com, 11 Jan 2007 [Full text]

Teaching Anatomy is more important than teaching communication skills.

Andy Wood
bmj.com, 15 Jan 2007 [Full text]

Re: Teaching Anatomy is more important than teaching communication skills.

Stevie Gamble
bmj.com, 16 Jan 2007 [Full text]

A very Grave offence.

Andy Wood
bmj.com, 17 Jan 2007 [Full text]

Re: A very Grave offence.

Stevie Gamble
bmj.com, 27 Jan 2007 [Full text]

Speaking of communication skills.

Andy Wood
bmj.com, 2 Feb 2007 [Full text]

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